Overnight access to select BWCAW entry points set to begin July 30
(Duluth, MN, July 27, 2026) – The Superior National Forest will implement a partial reopening of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCAW) starting Thursday, July 30. Forty-one entry points in the central and eastern portions of the Wilderness will reopen for day and overnight use, marking Phase 2 of the reopening process following limited day use access earlier this week. These areas represent roughly 39 percent—or about 432,500 acres—of the BWCAW.
The Phase 2 list includes all the same entry points as Phase 1 and adds several entry points in Lake and Cook Counties. There is only one entry point reopening in St. Louis County: Trout Lake (day-use motor only). Day-use motor is also opening on Seagull and Saganaga Lakes in Cook County. Opening of Phase 2 entry points is depicted by the BWCAW Closure Order #09-09-06-26-07 Exhibit B map.
All other entry points will stay closed while multiple wildfires continue to burn in the area. Permits for these entry points have been cancelled from July 30 through August 3. The Forest Service is working closely with partners to determine when conditions are appropriate enough to reopen. Protecting the public and firefighters’ remains the highest priority.
The following entry points are being reopened:
- Gunflint Ranger District
- 43 Bower Trout Lake
- 44 Ram Lake
- 45 Morgan Lake
- 47 Lizz and Swamp Lakes
- 48 Meeds Lake
- 49 Skipper and Portage Lakes
- 50 Cross River
- 51 Missing Link Lake
- 52 Brant Lake
- 58 South Lake
- 59 Partridge/South Lake Trail
- 60 Duncan Lake
- 61 Daniels Lake
- 62 Clearwater Lake
- 64 East Bearskin Lake
- 66 Crocodile River
- 68 Pine Lake
- 69 Little John Lake
- 70 North Fowl Lake
- 78 Brule Lake Trail
- 79 Eagle Mountain Trail
- 81 Border Route Trail (west)
- 82 Border Route Trail (center)
- 83 Border Route Trail (east)
- J Saganaga Lake (Day Use Motor)
- K Sea Gull Lake (Day Use Motor)
- Kawishiwi Ranger District
- 33 Little Gabbro Lake
- LaCroix Ranger District
- A Trout Lake (Day Use Motor)
- Tofte Ranger District
- 34 Island River
- 35 Isabella Lake
- 36 Hog Creek
- 37 Kawishiwi Lake
- 38 Sawbill Lake
- 39 Baker Lake
- 40 Homer Lake
- 41 Brule Lake
- 67 Bog Lake
- 75 Little Isabella River
- 84 Snake River
The Forest Service reminds visitors to be diligent in planning trips into newly reopened and all parts of the BWCAW. Plan to be self-sufficient, ensure a travel plan is in place and shared with family or friends, know weather forecasts and fire conditions before your trip, travel with multiple means of communication, and understand that you are entering a remote Wilderness area with risks due to weather, access, and potential wildfire activity. Tips on Wilderness trip planning, rules and regulations, and the official BWCAW Trip Planning Guide can be found on the BWCAW website.
For maps and more information on the Phase 2 partial reopening and fire restrictions please visit: https://fs.usda.gov/r09/superior/alerts
